Exhaust gas purifying attachment



April lZ, 1960 J. 1.. VILLASENOR ETAL 2,932,157

EXHAUST GAS PURIFYING ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l m m v. N m l 5 mm w m. w m L L V w m w m U A QH 3? 1 IL R nw u o o m 0 o E 9000 0 0 7 w J ATTORNEY April 12, 1960 J. L. vlLLAsEFIoR ETAL EXHAUST GAS PURIFYING ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1955 INVENTORQ JOSE LU/S VILLASE/VOR RAUL H. LEO/V ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fitice 2,932,151 EXHAUST GAS PURIFYING ATTACHMENT Jos L. Villasefior and Raul H. Leon, San Diego, Calif., assignors of one-third to James B. Abbey, San Diego, Calif.

Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,761 Claims. (Cl. 6030) Our invention relates to an exhaust gas pipe attachment for the purification and rectification of noxious gases discharging therefrom, particularly as adapted for use with internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, and its objects are to absorb and abstract noxious fumes and impurities from the gases coming from the exhaust pipes of said engines, and to clarify the same through the intake of atmospheric air drawn in during the rapid forward progress of the automomible, and to employ in aid of said clarification and as an absorbent and in reduction of the noxious hydrocarbons a constant application of castor oil, derived either from the castor bean or from the dried perineal glands and their secretion obtained from the beaver; to provide an attachment of this character which may be readily attached or removed from the exhaust pipes of internal combustion engines and supplied in sizes to fit the various makes of motor vehicles in private or commercial use; to provide an effective means for preventing the creation or discharge of smog upon the public highways and territory adjacent thereto; to render the parts readily accessible for inspection, adjustment, removal, replacement, renovation, and repair; and generally to provide an exhaust gas purifying attachment which is simple and economical of construction, effective in action, and of long life and durability. Our invention further consists of other novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of elements and parts illustrated in the drawing, and as hereinafter more specifically pointed and claimed.

Attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawing, illustrating an exhaust gas purifying attachment for a motor vehicle embodying a preferred form of our invention, in which similar numerals of designation refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevationary view of the said preferred form of our improved attachment;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the attachment shown in Fig. 1, showing the cylindrical casing and arrangement of internal parts thereof, mounted upon the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 3-3, and showing the form and arrangement of the air in-take wings around the exhaust pipe;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the same device on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the,v direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of said device on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the form and circumferential arrangement .of the passageways leading from the intake chamber to the concentration chamber;

. .Fig. 6 is a cross-section of that portion of the device actingas the fume reduction and dissolving chamber, on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the location of the dispensing 2,932,157 Patented Apr. 12, 1960 tank for castor oil, suspended asbestos container, catch basin and adjacent parts, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of Fig. 6, showing in detail the dispensing tank for castor oil, outlet valve therefrom, the asbestos cage below, and adjacent parts.

Referring to the drawing, the main body of our gas purifying attachment is an elongated cylindrical casing 8, of aluminum, or other light metal substance, or any suitable material; which casing is divided into successive communicating chambers A, B, C and D, arranged in sequence. A being the forced air-intake circulating chamber; B serving as the mixing chamber for the air coming from the chamber A and the gases coming from the exhaust pipe 10; C being the absorptive and reducing chamber of noxious gases through intimate association with castor oil; and D being the final purification clarifying and cleansing chamber. This attachment is constructed to be mounted upon the rearwardly protruding end portion 9 of the conventional exhaust pipe 10 of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle in the manner shortly to be described.

In order that an increased amount of the ambient air may positively and readily be drawn Within the primary chamber A of the casing 8, upon the forward movement of the car, with resulting whirling turbulence of said air within said chamber, we preferably construct the forward end 11 of said casing with the outwardly flaring and inwardly extending wings or fins 12 and 13, alternately arranged around the circumference of said casing; four of said wings 12 being bent outwardly at an angle of forty-five degrees with the longitudinal axis of said casing, and four of said wings 13 being bent inwardly at an angle of fifteen degrees with said axis, and also having their inner ends symmetrically twisted through an angle of about of fifteen degrees.

Preferably, the ends of the inturned wings 13 are bent inwardly to a sufficient extent to contact the peripheral surfaces of the end portion 9 of the exhaust pipe 10, and closely to engage therewith, so as closely to hold the saidv pipe within said casing and in central relation therewith. As shown, the form and location of the said wings is such that upon the motor vehicle proceeding forwardly upon its way, air automatically will rapidly be drawn within the chamber A of the attachment, the amount of such air depending upon the speed and progress of said vehicle, and creating a whirling current of air constantly moving rearwardly through the said cylinder and serving to drive before it toward the outlet thereof any gases with which it may come in contact.

Located inside of the central portion of the casing 8 and firmly secured to the wall thereof between the chambers A and B, is the collar 14 made of asbestos or a compacted composition thereof, the central opening 15 of which is shaped to receive and firmly to seat the end portion 9 of said exhaust pipe 10. Inserted Within and extending through the collar 14, and in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder of said casing, are the tubular conduits 16, equally spaced apart and circumscribing the opening 15, the said conduits serving to conduct the air flowing from the chamber A to the chamber B, and the asbestos material serving to insulate and protect the said tubes from the heat of the exhaust pipe. In order more securely to brace and support the casing upon the exhaust pipe 10 and to prevent detachment therefrom, we preferably supply the heavy metallic band 17 encircling said pipe, and connected in any suitable manner with the chassis of the motor vehicle from which said pipe extends.

The chamber B is completely filled wall to wall with closely packed steel wool, normally under the pressure of one-half pound to the square inch. With the motor of the engine idling, for every thirty cubic inches of the air entering from chamber A, fifteen cubic inches of gases coming from the exhaust pipe will enter it, and this proportion will be maintained at the same ratio as the motor vehicle is started, continues to roll, and as its speed increases. It is in this chamber that the disintegration and removal of the carbon oxides and other noxious gases is initiated and thereafter continues.

Passing through the steel wool content of chamber B, the residue of the mixture of air and gases formed therein pours into the chamber C, from the shell of which, by means of supports 18, and band 18a is suspended midway thereof a receptacle 19, the walls of which are of porous material, and the form of which is that of an elongated truncated cone extending forwardly along the longitudinal axis of the casing 8, with the base of said cone presented toward the discharge end of said casing. Loosely packed within said receptacle 19 and filling the same is a quantity of asbestos. Integral with the top of thecasing 8 or welded thereto is the encasement 20 serving as a reservoir for castor oil, introduced therein through the inlet 21 closed by the screw plug 22, and permitted to escape downwardly therefrom through the control valve 26. The control valve 26 may be of any suitable form well known in the art; but preferably it is in the form shown more particularly in Fig. 7, in which said valve consists of the tubular riser 23, having perforations 24 extending through the wall thereof and communicating with the hollow of the reservoir 29; the said riser being closed at the top and extending downwardlythrough the opening provided therefor in the bottom of said reservoir and protruding into the chamber C. Preferably the protruding mouth of said riser is in the shape of a funnel 25 in order that the castor oil coming from said reservoir may be widely distributed and fall upon the receptacle 19 beneath where passing through the porous wall thereof, it comes into intimate contact with the, asbestos therein, while the mixed air and gases flowing from the chamber B impinge upon said receptacle and saturate the same.

By reason of the special construction of the valve 26 as herein set forth, the amount of castor oil admitted therein and feeding by gravity therethrough is limited to an automatic dripping of said castor oil drop by drop down upon the porous wall of the asbestos receptacle 19 below; a very small fiowage of castor oil being required for the purposes of our invention, and replenishrnent thereof not often being required.

At the bottom of the chamber C, the wall thereof is distended to form the catch basin 27, located directly below the receptacle 19, in position to receive the droppings coming therefrom; an outlet 225 closed by the screwplug 29 being provided for the drawing off the said droppings after a substantial amount has accumulated. Preferably, the bottom of said basin is formed with a fifteen degree incline to the longitudinal axis of the casing 8 leading from the chamber B, and with a forty-five degree incline to said axis leading to the chamber D.

Generally the function of chamber C, and the parts and materials located therewithin, is through air and exhaust gas circulation in intimate association with castor oil, substantially to effect the removal of noxious hydrocarbons which impregnating the drippings or" said oil coming from the reservoir are thereby absorbed and removed in the droppings thereof accumulating in the catch basin 27. Since castor oil does not undergo chemical changes at the temperatures high or low encountered when coming in contactwith the exhaust gases coming from the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, we have found castor oil very effective when employed as an absorbent or reducing agent for the purposes of our invention.

Located at the discharge end portion of the casing 1 8 and in ppen communication with the chamber C, is the han p n b t th converging wa l of s casing forming the mouth thereof, and having a filling of steel wool 30, loosely packed under one-half pound pressure, and a wire-meshed mouth-piece. Within this chamber occurs the final cleansingof the residue of the mixture of exhaust gases coming from the exhaust pipe 10. In this chamber are removed any noxious hydrocarbon gases or oil particles not removed in the other preceding chamber, and there is finally expelled purified, clarified warm. air free from the impurities hereinbefore set forth.

By the words castor pil as used in the claims, we desire to be understood as meaning castor oil derived from the vegetablecastor bean and also as derived from the perineal glands and'their secretions obtained from the animal beaver.

In the operation of our improved apparatus hereinbefore described, the casing 8 having been attached to the exhaust pipe of the combustion engine of an automobile, and such automobile having been started and on its way, atmospheric air will forcibly be drawn into the chamber A through the interstices between the wings 12 and 13 and will with turbulence flow backwardly through said chamber in a strong swirling current around the peripheral surface of the protruding end portion of said exhaust pipe; the strength of said current being in proportion to the speed of the automobile. From the chamber A the air, so agitated, will be forced through the conduits 16 into the chamber B, where it will encounter and become mixed with the gases coming from the said exhaust pipe, and the mixture caused to make close contact with the steel wool packed within said chamber B, and a portion of the carbon of said mixture causedto be separated'therefrom and to adhere to and to be absorbed by said wool. Continuing, the rerriainder of the fluids of said mixture, by reason of the continued force of said current of air, will be impelledout of the chamber B and will flow rapidly into the chamber C. In chamber C, the exhaust gases will be brought into intimate relation with the castor oil impregnating the receptacle 19, and such oil will absorb from such gases substantially all of the noxious hydro-carbons remaining therein, so that there will be expelled into chamber D, the purified residue, where flowing through the steel wool, loosely packed therein, such residue will be finally cleansed and emerge from the mouth-piece 31, as purified, clarified air.

Our invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment, as above set forth is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of our invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all charges which may come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein. What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Engine exhaust gas conditioning apparatus comprising an exhaust pipe, a casing encompassing the outlet end of said exhaust pipe and extending along a considerable portion of the exhaust pipe and defining a circulating chamber between said exhaust pipe and easing, said chamber having a fresh air inlet-at the forward end thereof remote from said outlet end of the exhaust pipe so that said air inlet is in effect a forced air intake, said casing having a mixing chamber to the rear of said circulating chamber and incommunication with both said circulating chamber and said outlet end of the exhaust pipe, an incornbustible porous'filling in said mixing chamber, a source of castor oil, a receptacle of loosely packed material supported on said casing substantially cen a y Qfsaid m x n c a b r n m an d r c a slow o tr l e fl w 9 s i Pa r o r m a s source onto said receptacle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said material of said receptacle is asbestos.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said source is a gravity feed tank having a drip outlet in the upper side of said mixing chamber immediately above said receptacle, and said mixing chamber having an openable catch basin on the underside thereof beneath said receptacle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 and wherein said drip outlet is an automatic control valve.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle has the general form of a truncated cone with the base of the cone disposed toward the discharge end of said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,402 Yackel Apr. 26, 1904 873,785 Reichel Dec. 17, 1907 1,027,469 Forney May 28, 1912 1,179,145 Southern Apr. 11, 1916 1,465,904 Herdle Aug. 21, 1923 2,024,834 Rippe Dec. 17, 1935 2,795,103 Jenison June 11, 1957 

